Optimizing ITER's impact on the local economy

ITER is a chance for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region. And it is also a major challenge. On the territory that will be impacted by the program, several administrative entities and jurisdictions overlap. As a consequence, and in order to make the best of ITER, a new "territorial governance" has to be invented.

An important step in that direction was taken last Monday at the Château de Cadarache with the inauguration of the "Joint Bureau of ITER and Sustainable Development Agencies."

This new and original structure is funded by the Agencies for Economic Development of the six neighbouring départements, the Greater Aix Council, Euromed, the PACA Regional Council and the Mission for Regional Development. Its mission will consist of attracting, welcoming and supporting companies and businesses that wish to participate in ITER's dynamics. It is hosted in Cadarache by the Cap Énergie cluster.

"A collective response is paramount to optimizing ITER's contribution to the regional economic fabric," says Hervé Graulier, the newly-appointed head of the Joint Bureau.

Rather than being a new player in an already crowded field, the Joint Bureau will act as a "coordinator" and a "facilitator." Its intention is to play a key part in giving shape and consistency to the concept of "Valley of Energies"—a cluster of companies, businesses, universities and research centres of which ITER will be the "Admiral ship."